En savoir plus

I am researching the binding of different classes of antibiotics to the cell wall, specifically their targets and how their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) can be altered. The various methods I employ include disc diffusion assays, growth curve analysis, microcalorimetry, HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The results we have found are not exclusive to Bacillus subtilis and we have seen complementary results in other gram positive bacteria; Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium andListeria monocytogenes.

In addition, I have also been researching the importance of the amidation of meso-diaminopimelic acid in the third position of the stem peptide, in the peptidoglycan of Gram-positive bacteria. We have identified the gene encoding the amide transferase and seen that in knockout strains there are defects in cell size regulation and growth.